BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 3. Uzbekistan’s
Tashkent and Samarkand have joined the Food and Agriculture
Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Green Cities Network,
becoming part of a global community focused on developing greener,
healthier and more sustainable urban environments.
This was reflected in the statement by the National Committee on
Ecology and Climate Change of Uzbekistan.
The two cities were officially registered as members of the FAO
Green Cities Network in certificates issued August 20, 2026, by the
Secretariat of the FAO Green Cities Initiative at the
organization’s headquarters in Rome, according to Uzbekistan’s
government.
Membership will allow Tashkent and Samarkand to participate in
international cooperation among cities working to promote
sustainable urban development and integrated approaches to urban
greening.
The network focuses on three main areas: urban and peri-urban
forestry, urban and peri-urban agriculture, and sustainable
bioeconomy.
“Membership in the FAO Green Cities Network will provide
Tashkent and Samarkand with opportunities to exchange knowledge and
experience, strengthen technical capacity and develop partnerships
focused on sustainable urban solutions,” the Uzbek government
said.
The cities will also have access to technical assistance and
capacity-building support, participate in intercity cooperation
platforms, and receive assistance in aligning urban development
efforts with relevant international frameworks and environmental
agendas.
The membership is also expected to help the cities mobilize
resources, attract investment and strengthen their international
standing as proponents of sustainable urban development.
The FAO Green Cities Initiative was launched in 2020 with the
goal of contributing to significant improvements in human health
and well-being and environmental conditions in 1,000 cities by
2030.
The initiative is based on the FAO Green Cities Communiqué and
the FAO Green City Principles and Criteria. The Green Cities
Communiqué, presented at the First International Green Cities
Conference in 2025, outlines a shared vision and collective
commitments for advancing the global green cities movement.
The FAO Green City Principles and Criteria provide the
conceptual framework and guiding principles for implementing the
initiative.
The FAO Green Cities Initiative Secretariat is expected to
provide Tashkent and Samarkand with additional guidance in the
coming days on conducting an initial self-assessment. The process
will help identify priority areas for each city and shape technical
support according to their specific needs.
The inclusion of Tashkent and Samarkand in the network gives
Uzbekistan an additional platform for sharing urban sustainability
practices internationally, while providing the two cities with
access to technical expertise, partnerships and potential financing
opportunities for green urban projects.
